Underbites are a serious medical condition in which the lower jaw protrudes out and up. This abnormal positioning of the jaw can cause serious physical or cosmetic problems, and it almost always requires treatment.
Methods for correcting an underbite vary, but professionals agree that early treatment is best. Once the jaw stops growing, only drastic measures will correct a lingering underbite. The best time to begin treatment is before the age of 13, and oftentimes the dentist or orthodontist begin working with underbite cases as young as 8 years old.
Depending on severity, one or more of the following tactics can be used to correct an underbite.
Braces (Children and Adults)
Braces are a familiar treatment for crooked teeth and misaligned bites. They are often the first step orthodontists from places like the Brantford Mall Dental Office will take in an underbite diagnosis. For a child with less severe underbite, braces might be all the treatment they need. Adults awaiting corrective surgery may also use braces for 1-3 years before the surgery.
Chin Caps (Children)
A chin cap consists of a cap on the chin attached to a strap wrapping around the back of the head. The pressure on the chin can gradual reduce how far the lower jaw protrudes. This could be worn by a child for a year or more.
Palatal Expander (Children)
Expanders are made of wire and plastic and are worn on the roof of the mouth in order to expand the jaw. Turning a screw allows a gradual widening of the expander. A child would wear an expander for several hours a day over the course of several months.
Reverse-Pull Masks (Children)
If a palatal expander fails to correct an underbite, the dentist might recommend a reverse-pull mask. This mask, which looks like a catcher’s mask, can be worn at the same time as the chin cap. An elastic strap runs from the mask to the upper rear molars, pulling the upper jaw forward. A child would wear the reverse-pull mask for most of his waking day.
Surgery (Children and Adults)
For children, corrective surgery is only needed in the most severe cases. Underbites persisting into adulthood, however, require surgery to physically move the jaw.
While the best time to correct an underbite is in childhood, success is achievable at any age. These methods, when used properly, can give everyone suffering from an underbite the healthy mouth and beautiful smile they deserve.
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